Torpedo-placing device



. R. DAVENPORT.

D0 PLACING DEVI non FILED Aua.24.

Patented July 5, 1921.

PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR IBI. DAVENPOR'LOF GRANITE CITY, ILLINOIS.

TORIEDO-PLACING DEVICE.

Application filed August 24, 1920.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, EDGAR It. DnvnNroR'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Granite City, in the county of Madison and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Torpedo-Placing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device for placing torpedoes on the rails, the principal object of the invention being to provide means whereby the torpedo can be placed on the rail from a moving train.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for clamping the torpedo to the rail, said clamping means acting to free the torpedo and its carrying device froml the part of the device carried by the train.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out 1n the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing how the invention is used in placing a torpedo on the rail from a moving train.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the torpedo carrier and clamping device.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of thc placing device. A

Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing the torpedo carrier and the placing device connected together.

In these views l indicates a plate to which the torpedo 2 is adapted to be connected in any suitable manner. This plate has secured to its lower face the inverted U-shaped member 3 which is formed of spring metal and which is adapted to straddle the rail when the torpedo is in place thereon. Each leg of the U member carries an upwardly extending spring strip 4;, these strips being adapted to be pressed apart by the head of the rail as the device is being pressed downwardly over the rail, and then to spring inwardly and grip the web of the rail under the head to prevent the device from being pulled off the rail. The' torpedo is covered by a plate 5 and either this plate or the plate l carries a number of spring catches Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 5, 1921.

Serial No. 405,609.

6 which may be formed of spring metal strips bent into the shape shown.

These catches are adapted to engage the groove 7 formed in the socket 8 of the head 9 of the plunger rod l0. This rod is slidably mounted on a part of the train, as shown 1n Fig. l, and is placed in vertical alinement with one of the rails so that as it is pressed downwardly the socketed head carrying the torpedo and its clamping device will be forced against the rail and thus cause the clamping device to grip the same. As the rod is pulled upwardly the spring catches will release themselves from the socketed head so that the torpedo and its carrier will remain on the rail.

As shown in Fig. l the rod is slidably supported in suitable brackets ll placed on a part of the train and the upper end of the rod is provided with a looped handle l2 which may be placed in engagement with a hook 13 located on the roof of the car for holding the plunger rod in raised position.

It will thus be seen that when the torpedo is to be placed on the track it is simply necessary to release the handle 12 and the hook 13 and to depress the rod to force its socketed head against the rail. This movement will cause the U-shaped member to straddle the rail and the springs l will grip the rail under the head so as to prevent the carrier from being removed from the rail when the rod is pulled upwardly again. When the rod is moved upwardly the spring catches will free themselves from the head.

I prefer to place a facing 14 of rubber or the like on the lower end of the head, this facing being so placed as not to interfere with the proper working of the device.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

I desire it to be understood that I may make changes in the construction and 'in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim is A torpedo carrier comprising a plate to which the torpedo is secured, a U-shaped member carried by the plate for straddling the rail andspring strips carried by said member for engaging the rail underneath the head.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

EDGAR R. DAVENPORT, 

